Overview
Program Coordinator: Dr. Heidi MacGlaughlin
Program Delivery Format: 100% Online, 8-week sessions Fall and Spring, 6-week sessions Summer
Total Credits:
- Endorsement Specialization: 39
- Initial Teacher Licensure Specialization: 45
Average Completion Time: 24-36 months
Admission Cycle: Fall, Spring, & Summer
Admissions Contact: Crystal Perry, Assistant Director, Graduate Enrollment Management (cperry@mcdaniel.edu | 410-386-4833)
GPS Student Support Liaisons: gpsadvising@mcdaniel.edu | 410-857-2500
Come connect with an energetic community of individuals pursuing teaching credentials for PK-12 Deaf Education.
Earn a degree that means something - McDaniel is highly regarded nationally for its Deaf Education program. Since its inception in 1967 as a joint effort between McDaniel College and the Maryland School for the Deaf, McDaniel College’s Master of Science program in Deaf Education has built on its mission to prepare outstanding teachers of Deaf students.
Key Features of the Deaf Education program include:
- Philosophically, the program views Deaf students from a cultural perspective. For graduates, that translates into a genuine acceptance of and respect for the language and culture of Deaf people, as well as a driving commitment to provide students with experiences that encourage literacy development and academic achievement.
- ASL and English are emphasized as the languages of instruction in an online environment. This requires students to be proficient in both ASL and English.
- All online classes utilize both ASL and English. Courses taught online are synchronous webinar format and require video camera for ASL instruction and learning.
- Two tracks are available to meet your specific educational and career goals: Endorsement Track, which is designed for currently licensed teachers seeking to add Pk-12 Deaf and Hard of Hearing licensure, or the Initial Licensure Track, which prepares students for Initial Professional Licensure in Pk-12 Deaf and Hard of Hearing in the state of Maryland.
Graduates are prepared to teach Deaf students in PK12. The Deaf Education program is approved by the Council on Education of the Deaf (CED) and the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). McDaniel College is a member in good standing of the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), a national accrediting organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
Courses are taught by full-time faculty as well as adjunct instructors and researchers in the field who are able to incorporate their professional experience and current practices into their course content. Classes are taught primarily in ASL in a bisynchronous format using online instruction with synchronous online class meetings. Candidates intern in bilingual programs with approval of the Program Coordinator.
Students are required to take all required state assessment tests for award of the degree (i.e. - edTPA). In order to receive a Maryland Approved Program (MAP) statement on the transcript and to become eligible for licensure in Maryland, students are required to pass all Maryland required assessments. This program is designed to meet Maryland licensure requirements. For more information, please see the Professional Licensure section of this page, visit our Professional Licensure webpage, or contact our Professional Licensure Representative at gps@mcdaniel.edu.
Vision and Mission Statements
Deaf Education Vision
For teachers of Deaf and hard-of-hearing students to embrace an in-depth understanding of a bilingual philosophy, to promote literacy and access to world knowledge, to incorporate cultural and historical perspectives that value diversity, to explore current research trends in the field, and to create opportunities for the success of all children.
Deaf Education Pedagogical Mission
To prepare knowledgeable and competent teachers who challenge and empower students by creating meaningful and rewarding learning experiences, who have a lifelong enthusiasm for learning, who are reflective practitioners open to new ideas and challenges, and who search for ways to improve instruction for Deaf students.
Deaf Education Linguistic Mission
To prepare teachers who strive for excellence in both ASL and English, who provide their students with support for improvement in both languages, who develop an appreciation and respect for bilingual fluency, who create a linguistically rich learning environment, and who share the beauty of both languages.
Deaf Education Cultural Mission
To prepare teachers who value the importance of Deaf culture and integrate it into their teaching, who appreciate the unique contributions of Deaf and hearing teachers serving as role models for all students, and who develop sensitivity and respect for the individual differences among children and adults.
Program Options
This program prepares students to teach students who are Deaf or hard of hearing in a PK12 environment.
Endorsement Specialization: Designed for candidates who hold an active initial teacher license and who seek to add Deaf and Hard of Hearing licensure in the state of Maryland. Candidates complete a total of 39 credit hours, including 3 credits of internship (DED-552) working with Deaf and Hard of Hearing students.
Initial Teacher Licensure Specialization: Designed for candidates who are seeking Initial Teaching Licensure. This track is for candidates who have been hired conditionally to teach and are seeking licensure, as well as students who are not currently working conditionally in a school as a teacher. Candidates complete a total of 45 credit hours*, including 3 credits of practicum and 6 credits of internship teaching in a classroom with Deaf and Hard of Hearing students. Candidates are also required to meet identified prerequisites or take the identified courses while in the program. Prerequisites are determined by the program coordinator through a review of the undergraduate and graduate transcripts.
*Note: Candidates who have held a conditional or emergency teaching license for more than one year may be exempt from the practicum requirement and thus may complete a total of 42 credit hours.
Admissions Requirements
Applicants to the program must:
- Complete an application for graduate study
- Submit official transcripts verifying completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.0*
- Submit an American Sign Language Proficiency Test Score of 3.0 or higher, or an Oregon NSLA test score of intermediate rating or higher. An ASLPI interview can be used in lieu of ASLPI or NSLA scores where deemed appropriate by the program coordinator.
- Interview and EPE: All students will meet with the program coordinator for a virtual interview. At this time, students will be asked to complete a writing sample to evaluate English proficiency (EPE). A score of 4 on the EPE is required for admission.
*Please note: Students with a 2.75 to 2.99 GPA may be admitted provisionally and will be required to maintain a 3.0 GPA in the first 9-12 credit hours. Students with less than a 2.75 GPA will be considered on a case-by-case basis for provisional admission and may be required to provide additional documentation and/or participate in an interview.
International Students:
This program is delivered primarily online and as a result does not meet the federal regulations for international students to study in the US. Students living outside of the US are not eligible to participate in this program.
Corequisites/Prerequisites:
Maryland State Department of Education requires the following courses on your transcript in order to be certified in the State of Maryland:
- Child and Adolescent Development
- Linguistics of ASL
Initial Licensure Specialization Practicum and Internship: 9 credits
All students admitted to the program will be required to complete a criminal history disclosure and may be required to complete a drug screen and background check before entering practicum or internship if required by the placement site. Students are required to complete all practicum and internship experiences in a PK-12 classroom working with Deaf and Hard of Hearing students. All students must be approved by the program coordinator to enter practicum or internship courses.
All candidates seeking initial teacher licensure must complete the following courses:
Endorsement Specialization Internship: 3 credits
Candidates who hold a teaching license (not including conditional or emergency licensure) and are seeking to add a Deaf and Hard of Hearing specialty area to a current teaching license are not required to take the DED-595 Practicum and must take 3 credits of internship, DED-552: Internship for Deaf Education. The internship will require working with students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing in a PK-12 classroom.
Total Credits
Initial Licensure Specialization: 45
Endorsement Specialization: 39
Exit Requirements
Students must complete all courses required for the degree, including the practicum and internship, and have a minimum 3.0 GPA. Additional exit requirements include taking and submitting scores on all state of Maryland required assessments for Deaf Education. While McDaniel College will post the master’s degree to the transcript when scores are received, a Maryland Approved Program (MAP) statement on the transcript will not be issued until passing scores on all required Maryland assessments for licensure in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education are received. This is a requirement of the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE).
Students should be aware that while McDaniel requires students to take all required assessments which lead to Maryland licensure, obtaining an MSDE teaching license requires passing scores on all tests/assessments in addition to completing McDaniel’s Maryland approved teacher preparation program.
State Authorization
McDaniel is an approved institutional member of the National Council of State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA). Membership in SARA is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses/programs offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state. For more information about SARA, including the states currently participating in the agreement, visit http://www.nc-sara.org.
SARA membership allows McDaniel to accept and deliver our programs/courses online to students in 49 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Students who reside in California, currently the only state not a member of SARA, should contact the admissions office prior to application to verify if you are eligible to participate in the online program of interest.
For more information about state authorization requirements and complaint resolution, visit https://www.mcdaniel.edu/academics/graduate-professional-studies/state-authorization-requirements-complaints-resolution
Professional Licensure
Requirements for professional licensure in fields such as accounting, education, counseling, nursing, psychology, and social work vary from state to state. McDaniel’s academic programs are designed to meet Maryland’s licensure requirements and may not meet requirements from other states. Before beginning any academic program that leads to licensure, McDaniel highly recommends that you contact the appropriate state licensing board where you wish to seek licensure to determine whether the program you are considering will meet that state’s licensing requirements. You may also contact McDaniel College’s Professional Licensure Representative at gps@mcdaniel.edu to inquire.
For more important information regarding professional licensure and the completion of McDaniel degrees, please review our Professional Licensure webpage.
Students who complete this program and are seeking licensure in the state of Maryland must meet all Maryland-specific requirements in addition to completing this Maryland Approved Program. The requirements may include but are not limited to any of the following:
- Passing scores on content specific exams
- Teaching experience
- Payment of application or processing fees
More information about Maryland State Department of Education requirements can be found at https://www.marylandpublicschools.org
